The remains of three siblings who perished in the devastating f+re at the Great Nigeria Insurance House on Martins Street, Lagos Island, on December 24, 2025, were laid to rest in their hometown of Uzoakwa, Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State, on Wednesday.
Mr. Steve Onyeka Omatu (40), Mr. Casmir Nnabuike Omatu (39), and Mr. Collins Kenechukwu Omatu (37) tragically lost their lives after being trapped inside the b¥rning high-rise building.
The f+re, which started on the fourth floor and rapidly spread upward, made rescue efforts impossible, leaving only ashes recovered for burial.
The burial ceremony drew family, friends, community members, and dignitaries, including Peter Obi, chieftain of the African Democratic Congress and former Labour Party presidential candidate, and Ihiala Federal Constituency lawmaker Pascal Agbodike.
Obi offered heartfelt condolences, praying for eternal rest for the brothers and strength for the grieving families.
“We have no power to question God Almighty. He is the one who gives and takes,” Obi said. “It is very p+inful to lose such energetic and promising young men at this time.”
The tragedy has sent shock waves through the Ihiala community, where mourners gathered to bid a tearful farewell. Black-clad attendees carried posters of the brothers, visibly struggling to accept the immense loss.
The Omatu family was among the hardest hit, with three brothers lost while a surviving twin, Camillus Omatu, escaped the blaze. A service of songs and Requiem Mass was held earlier at Jesus the Saviour Catholic Church, Ejigbo, Lagos.
This disaster reignited serious concerns about f+re safety and emergency response in Lagos, as residents remember the victims and pray for healing and justice.
